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Your solar payback depends on where you live. National Grid towns pay back in 6.4 years. Eversource towns average 7 years. Municipal utility towns take 10-13 years. Find your town below.
6.4 yr
Fastest Payback
Fitchburg/Leominster
7.0 yr
Eversource Avg
$0.2836/kWh towns
6.5 yr
NGrid Avg
$0.32/kWh towns
11.3 yr
Municipal Avg
$0.16-$0.20/kWh
A homeowner in Salem (National Grid) pays back their solar system in 6.5 years. A homeowner in Wellesley (municipal utility) takes 12.8 years. Same state, same sun, dramatically different economics. Here is why.
National Grid charges ~$0.32/kWh. Eversource charges ~$0.2836/kWh. Municipal utilities charge $0.16-$0.20/kWh. Every $0.01/kWh difference changes payback by about 3-4 months for an 11 kW system.
System cost ranges from $2.85/W in Springfield to $3.60/W in Dover. A 10 kW system at $3.00/W costs $30,000 vs. $36,000 at $3.60/W. That is $6,000 and 1+ year of additional payback.
SMART 3.0 pays $0.03/kWh for 20 years on IOU-served homes. That is $330-$432/year for a typical system. Municipal utility towns get $0 from SMART, adding 1-2 years to payback.
National Grid · $0.32/kWh
National Grid · $0.32/kWh
National Grid · $0.32/kWh
National Grid · $0.32/kWh
National Grid · $0.32/kWh
All data based on 2026 utility rates, SMART 3.0 production incentive ($0.03/kWh), 1:1 net metering, 15% MA state tax credit (up to $1,000), and average installed cost per watt. No federal 25D ITC (expired Dec 31, 2025).
| Town | $/W | System | System Cost | Annual kWh | Year 1 Savings | SMART Income | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $3.30 | 9.5 kW | $31,350 | 11,400 | $2,891 | $342/yr | 7.2 yr |
| Cambridge | $3.33 | 9 kW | $29,970 | 10,800 | $2,739 | $324/yr | 7.5 yr |
| Somerville | $3.28 | 8.5 kW | $27,880 | 10,200 | $2,599 | $306/yr | 7.3 yr |
| Brookline | $3.33 | 10 kW | $33,300 | 12,000 | $3,043 | $360/yr | 7.4 yr |
| Newton | $3.28 | 11.5 kW | $37,720 | 13,800 | $3,527 | $414/yr | 7.1 yr |
| Arlington | $3.28 | 11 kW | $36,080 | 13,200 | $3,340 | $396/yr | 7.1 yr |
| Medford | $3.23 | 10.5 kW | $33,915 | 12,600 | $3,197 | $378/yr | 7 yr |
| Quincy | $3.23 | 10 kW | $32,300 | 12,000 | $3,043 | $360/yr | 7.1 yr |
| Milton | $3.28 | 12 kW | $39,360 | 14,400 | $3,715 | $432/yr | 7 yr |
| Dedham | $3.23 | 11.5 kW | $37,145 | 13,800 | $3,527 | $414/yr | 7 yr |
| Town | $/W | System | System Cost | Annual kWh | Year 1 Savings | SMART Income | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Framingham | $3.18 | 12 kW | $38,160 | 14,400 | $3,715 | $432/yr | 6.8 yr |
| Natick | $3.23 | 12 kW | $38,760 | 14,400 | $3,715 | $432/yr | 6.9 yr |
| Lexington | $3.33 | 12 kW | $39,960 | 14,400 | $3,715 | $432/yr | 7.2 yr |
| Waltham | $3.23 | 11 kW | $35,530 | 13,200 | $3,340 | $396/yr | 7 yr |
| Needham | $3.28 | 11.5 kW | $37,720 | 13,800 | $3,527 | $414/yr | 7.1 yr |
| Watertown | $3.28 | 9.5 kW | $31,160 | 11,400 | $2,891 | $342/yr | 7.2 yr |
| Town | $/W | System | System Cost | Annual kWh | Year 1 Savings | SMART Income | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $3.18 | 11 kW | $34,980 | 13,200 | $3,870 | $396/yr | 6.5 yr |
| Gloucester | $3.23 | 11 kW | $35,530 | 13,200 | $3,870 | $396/yr | 6.6 yr |
| Newburyport | $3.23 | 11 kW | $35,530 | 13,200 | $3,870 | $396/yr | 6.6 yr |
| Beverly | $3.18 | 11 kW | $34,980 | 13,200 | $3,870 | $396/yr | 6.5 yr |
| Town | $/W | System | System Cost | Annual kWh | Year 1 Savings | SMART Income | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | $3.13 | 12 kW | $37,560 | 14,400 | $3,715 | $432/yr | 6.7 yr |
| Hingham | $3.23 | 11.5 kW | $37,145 | 13,800 | $3,527 | $414/yr | 7 yr |
| Scituate | $3.28 | 11 kW | $36,080 | 13,200 | $3,340 | $396/yr | 7.2 yr |
| Marshfield | $3.18 | 11.5 kW | $36,570 | 13,800 | $3,527 | $414/yr | 6.9 yr |
| Town | $/W | System | System Cost | Annual kWh | Year 1 Savings | SMART Income | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $3.10 | 12 kW | $37,200 | 14,400 | $4,236 | $432/yr | 6.5 yr |
| Fitchburg | $3.08 | 12 kW | $36,960 | 14,400 | $4,236 | $432/yr | 6.4 yr |
| Leominster | $3.08 | 12 kW | $36,960 | 14,400 | $4,236 | $432/yr | 6.4 yr |
| Town | $/W | System | System Cost | Annual kWh | Year 1 Savings | SMART Income | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $3.05 | 11.5 kW | $35,075 | 13,800 | $3,527 | $414/yr | 6.6 yr |
| Northampton | $3.10 | 11 kW | $34,100 | 13,200 | $3,340 | $396/yr | 6.8 yr |
| Greenfield | $3.08 | 11.5 kW | $35,420 | 13,800 | $3,527 | $414/yr | 6.7 yr |
| Pittsfield | $3.10 | 11 kW | $34,100 | 13,200 | $3,340 | $396/yr | 6.9 yr |
Massachusetts electricity rates have increased an average of 4.8% per year over the last decade. Our payback calculations use today's rate held flat, which is conservative. If rates continue rising at even 3% per year, actual payback shortens by 6-12 months.
Towns served by municipal plants (MLPs) have significantly longer payback periods. But that does not mean solar is a bad investment.
For Eversource and National Grid customers, adding a Tesla Powerwall 3 to your solar system unlocks ConnectedSolutions demand response revenue. This can shorten your combined payback dramatically.
$3,737/yr
$275/kW summer + $50/kW winter
Battery: Powerwall 3 (11.5 kW)
Impact: Shortens combined payback by 2-3 years
$3,162/yr
$225/kW summer + $50/kW winter
Battery: Powerwall 3 (11.5 kW)
Impact: Shortens combined payback by 2-3 years
$0/yr
Not eligible for ConnectedSolutions
Battery: Backup-only value
Impact: No revenue impact on payback
The average solar payback period in Massachusetts is 6.5 to 8 years for homes served by Eversource or National Grid. Towns on municipal utilities (Wellesley, Concord, Belmont, Braintree) see 10-13 year paybacks due to lower electric rates. The federal 25D residential tax credit expired December 31, 2025, so payback is based on state incentives only.
National Grid charges ~$0.32/kWh vs. Eversource at ~$0.2836/kWh. Higher electricity rates mean more savings per kWh of solar production, which shortens payback. Salem and Worcester (National Grid) pay back in ~6.5 years vs. ~7.2 years for comparable Eversource towns.
Municipal plants (MLPs) charge $0.16-$0.20/kWh — 30-50% less than Eversource or National Grid. Lower rates mean less savings per kWh. MLPs also don't participate in SMART 3.0 or ConnectedSolutions, removing those revenue streams. Wellesley ($0.16/kWh) has a 12.8-year payback vs. 7 years for a similar home in nearby Newton ($0.2836/kWh).
Yes. SMART 3.0 pays $0.03/kWh for 20 years on all residential solar production. For an 11 kW system producing 13,200 kWh/year, that is $396/year in additional income. This shortens payback by about 0.5-0.8 years compared to states without production incentives. SMART 3.0 only applies to Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil — not municipal utilities.
ConnectedSolutions pays $225-$275/kW for summer demand response participation. A Tesla Powerwall 3 (11.5 kW) enrolled in Eversource ConnectedSolutions can earn $3,162/year in summer + $575 in winter = $3,737/year. This dramatically shortens the combined solar+battery payback. Available through Eversource and National Grid only.
Yes. Massachusetts has the highest electricity rates in the continental US (~$0.28-$0.32/kWh), SMART 3.0 production payments, 1:1 net metering, a 15% state tax credit (up to $1,000), sales tax exemption, and 20-year property tax exemption. Even without the federal 25D ITC, most MA homeowners see 6.5-8 year payback — among the fastest in the nation.
The three biggest factors are: (1) Electric rate — National Grid towns save $0.04/kWh more than Eversource towns, (2) Roof orientation and shade — south-facing unshaded roofs produce 15-25% more than east/west split arrays, (3) System cost — ranges from $2.85/W in Springfield to $3.60/W in Dover based on complexity, labor cost, and equipment tier.
These are averages. Your roof orientation, shade, and energy usage change the number. Get a custom estimate for your address.
Full pricing breakdown by system size and installer
Read moreHow SMART 3.0 pays $0.03/kWh for 20 years
Read moreWhy MA solar is still worth it after 25D expiration
Read more5 things to check before signing any solar quote
Read more1:1 retail rate credit for residential systems
Read moreWhich financing option gives the fastest payback?
Read more